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VOLUME 16, NUMBER 15
M
HUCKLEBERRIES
McDonald Peak is off-limits to humans for now
Two grizzly bears were seen on McDonald Peak Aug. 13, prompting a closed-to-humans order from the Tribal Council Aug. 14.
For six of the past seven years, about half of the Mission Mountains' estimated two dozen grizzly bears have been seen on McDonald Peak in late summer, filling up on ladybug beetles and army cutworm moths there.
To decrease the chances of grizzly-human confrontations, the Council usually closes the 10,000-acre area each year from late July to early October following recommendations from Tribal and BIA wildlife experts.
The closure's been called every year in late July since 1981, the first year the peak received official biological attention, except for 1985, when the grizzlies were no-shows. The 1987 closure is two weeks later than usual.
It's hoped that the bears will find plentiful high-elevation food so they won't need to venture into the human-populated foothills for more pre-hiber-nation filling up before the snow flies.
Officials note that the closure affects only 10% of the wilderness area and is part of a grizzly-bear management plan. Trails leading to the area will be posted.
Wilderness users are reminded, too, that there may be bears elsewhere in the mountains, so caution is advised.
The Bread Basket helps people in need
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At least once in our lives, most of us have come across hard times. Bills to pay, clothes to buy and mouths to feed can sometimes ambush a family.
It's times like that when you've depleted your resources and you just don't know where to turn that you really need a helping hand. It's times like that when we're lucky to have caring neighbors who are eager to lend that hand. . . neighbors like the people at the Ronan
Bread Basket
The Bread Basket, which opened its doors in June, is serving needy families by giving out food baskets each month. The organization is run by a board of nine women from the Ronan area who are volunteering their time and hard work to see that people aren't going hungry.
One of the three co-chairwomen, (Continues on page two)
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ATTENTION, CUTTERS:
A meeting for post-and-pole cutters has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Flathead Post and Pole Yard in Dixon, beginning at 9 a.m.
Pole yard manager Aaron Jones said the topics to be discussed are the general policies and regulations concerning sawlog harvesting.
For more information, call 246-3591.